Vaccine
Volume 33, Issue 48, Pages 6503-6946 (27 November 2015)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X/33/48
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Pediatric provider vaccine hesitancy: An under-recognized obstacle to immunizing children
Original Research Article
Pages 6629-6634
Manika Suryadevara, Andrew Handel, Cynthia A. Bonville, Donald A. Cibula, Joseph B. Domachowske
Abstract
Objective
To describe vaccine attitudes among pediatric healthcare providers attending immunization conferences.
Study design
Attendees of 5 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-sponsored vaccine conferences held between June and November 2013 anonymously completed a questionnaire assessing vaccine attitudes and practices prior to the opening of educational sessions. Pearson’s chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests were used to analyze associations between vaccine attitudes, vaccine practices and provider characteristics.
Results
680 providers attending AAP-sponsored vaccine conferences were included. 661/666 (99%) enrolled providers state they routinely recommend standard pediatric vaccines, yet, 30 (5%) state that they do not routinely recommend influenza and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. These providers expressed vaccine safety (87/680 (13%)) and efficacy (21/680 (31%)) concerns and stated belief in vaccine misperceptions: vaccine causes autism (34/668, 5%), multiple vaccines at a single visit reduces vaccine efficacy (43/680, 6%) or overwhelms the immune system (63/680, 9%), and administering HPV vaccine will increase the likelihood of unprotected adolescent sexual activity (29/680, 4%). Six percent of providers who do not routinely recommend all pediatric vaccines correctly identified themselves as vaccine hesitant.
Conclusion
Vaccine hesitancy is under-recognized among pediatric providers attending AAP-sponsored immunization conferences. Educational interventions tailored to address provider vaccine concerns are needed to improve provider vaccine confidence.